Deltona manager quits, to get year of severance

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 10:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 10:08 p.m.

Deltona commissioners unan­imously accepted City Manager Faith Miller's resignation Mon­day night, ending 17 years of service to the city.

Mayor John Masiarczyk raised the issue toward the end of a two-hour City Commission meeting, with no mention of it on the agenda. He said he got a call from Miller at 4:30 p.m., two hours before the meeting, and that she asked to be allowed to tender her resignation as long as her one-year severance agreement was honored. The package includes her annual salary, $133,099, as well as bene­fits.

Commissioners voted 7-0 to accept those terms, then unani­mously voted to elevate Deputy City Manager Dave Denny to the interim manager role.

At least a couple of commis­sioners said they were sur­prised by the move.

"I had zero conversations (with Miller)," said Commis­sioner Webster Barnaby. "I was as surprised as anybody."

Vice Mayor Zenaida Denizac, who had made a motion to fire Miller two years earlier, said she had not recently demanded Miller's resignation and was surprised Miller offered it.

Masiarczyk said he did not hear from Miller why she chose to resign.

"I don't know. ... there had been rumors flying all over town."

Masiarczyk said he believed that the parties involved — the commissioners and manager — handled it "like a bunch of adults," without making bruis­ing comments.

"It's evident that members of the commission two years ago and this year wanted to move in a different direction," he said. "The management style came in conflict with individuals and (Miller) did the courageous thing."

Commissioner Chris Nabicht said he had recently met with Miller and told her she wasn't "on the same page" in terms of leadership style and commu­nications.

"She had some conversations with other commissioners, as well, and she tendered her resig­nation," Nabicht said. "I don't want to go negative on stuff. ... In the areas of communication within the organization and oth­er government entities, things were just happening. Some stuff was slipping through the cracks, and she's responsible for those things."

Commissioner Nancy Schleicher — who along with Nabicht and Barnaby were elected in November — said Miller's tenure included "bumps in the road" and that "it very possible is time for a change," but said she had not demanded Miller's resignation.

Commissioner Heidi Herz­berg said Deltona has been through a lot of turmoil in re­cent years, but is moving be­yond that.

"For me, she's always been ac­cessible, a source of knowledge and she did well by the city fis­cally. She kept us in good finan­cial shape," Herzberg said.

Miller was the city's first and only city clerk until she was made acting city manager in January 2008, following the fir­ing of Steve Thompson. The in­terim tag was removed nine months later, and she has since worked through tumultuous times, overseeing a massive budget reduction because of Del­tona's 60-plus-percent drop in property value. She could not be reached Monday night for com­ment.

Denizac said she viewed the commission meeting as a way to turn the page.

"Tonight, we have acted with grace and we have acted with maturity," Denizac said. "For me, despite everything ... it"s almost like a proud moment that we have handled certain things with class. Mr. Denny, thank you for stepping to the plate."

<p>Deltona commissioners unan­imously accepted City Manager Faith Miller's resignation Mon­day night, ending 17 years of service to the city. </p><p>Mayor John Masiarczyk raised the issue toward the end of a two-hour City Commission meeting, with no mention of it on the agenda. He said he got a call from Miller at 4:30 p.m., two hours before the meeting, and that she asked to be allowed to tender her resignation as long as her one-year severance agreement was honored. The package includes her annual salary, $133,099, as well as bene­fits. </p><p>Commissioners voted 7-0 to accept those terms, then unani­mously voted to elevate Deputy City Manager Dave Denny to the interim manager role. </p><p>At least a couple of commis­sioners said they were sur­prised by the move. </p><p>"I had zero conversations (with Miller)," said Commis­sioner Webster Barnaby. "I was as surprised as anybody." </p><p>Vice Mayor Zenaida Denizac, who had made a motion to fire Miller two years earlier, said she had not recently demanded Miller's resignation and was surprised Miller offered it. </p><p>Masiarczyk said he did not hear from Miller why she chose to resign. </p><p>"I don't know. ... there had been rumors flying all over town." </p><p>Masiarczyk said he believed that the parties involved &mdash; the commissioners and manager &mdash; handled it "like a bunch of adults," without making bruis­ing comments. </p><p>"It's evident that members of the commission two years ago and this year wanted to move in a different direction," he said. "The management style came in conflict with individuals and (Miller) did the courageous thing." </p><p>Commissioner Chris Nabicht said he had recently met with Miller and told her she wasn't "on the same page" in terms of leadership style and commu­nications. </p><p>"She had some conversations with other commissioners, as well, and she tendered her resig­nation," Nabicht said. "I don't want to go negative on stuff. ... In the areas of communication within the organization and oth­er government entities, things were just happening. Some stuff was slipping through the cracks, and she's responsible for those things." </p><p>Commissioner Nancy Schleicher &mdash; who along with Nabicht and Barnaby were elected in November &mdash; said Miller's tenure included "bumps in the road" and that "it very possible is time for a change," but said she had not demanded Miller's resignation. </p><p>Commissioner Heidi Herz­berg said Deltona has been through a lot of turmoil in re­cent years, but is moving be­yond that. </p><p>"For me, she's always been ac­cessible, a source of knowledge and she did well by the city fis­cally. She kept us in good finan­cial shape," Herzberg said. </p><p>Miller was the city's first and only city clerk until she was made acting city manager in January 2008, following the fir­ing of Steve Thompson. The in­terim tag was removed nine months later, and she has since worked through tumultuous times, overseeing a massive budget reduction because of Del­tona's 60-plus-percent drop in property value. She could not be reached Monday night for com­ment. </p><p>Denizac said she viewed the commission meeting as a way to turn the page. </p><p>"Tonight, we have acted with grace and we have acted with maturity," Denizac said. "For me, despite everything ... it"s almost like a proud moment that we have handled certain things with class. Mr. Denny, thank you for stepping to the plate."</p>